Working at a computer analysing data might not sound as exciting as getting out and working in the beautiful wetlands and waterways of the Lower Balonne, but data analysis is an essential component of understanding changes in the landscape to improve environmental water outcomes.

Andres Sutton, the newly appointed Remote Sensing Analyst for the UNSW CES Flow-MER team, has been hard at work compiling, processing and analysing Sentinel-2 and Landsat satellite data (see right) of the Lower Balonne catchment.

The data processed includes Sentinel-2 inundation maps and annual inundation dynamic maps (inundation start and duration) over seven years (2017-2024).

Sentinel-2 surface water extent in waterbird survey sites in Narran Lakes was studied at two scales: waterbird breeding site and wider landscape scale (including all survey sites).

Preliminary analysis of historical Landsat satellite inundation mapping revealed extensive changes in the inundation patterns of the Lower Balonne catchment in the past 35 years (pictured below). 

Next, the team will analyse inundation data collected by the UNSW Flow-MER team over the last several months and study drivers (eg. land use changes, environmental flows, etc) of long-term trends. Understanding the causes of long-term changes will allow the team to predict future changes and better inform environmental water decision-making.

The Flow-MER team are utilising data from two Earth observation satellite programs - Sentinel-2 and Landsat - that monitor changes in the Earth’s land surface conditions. The programs provide a data archive that assists people across the globe in making informed decisions about Earth’s natural resources and the environment.

Developed and operated by the European Space Agency, Sentinel-2 consists of twin satellites that constantly orbit Earth, and the Landsat program, which is jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has a series of Earth-observing satellites.

The programs offer complimentary benefits. Running since 1972, the Landsat program provides the longest continuous record of Earth’s land surfaces, while Sentinel-2 offers more frequent revisits (it takes a complete picture of the planet every five days) and additional spectral bands.

Both programs offer their images and data online and free of charge via Sentinel-2 and Landsat.